Acrylic on canvas, stretched and ready to hang.

Signed on the front.

Another in my geisha series, this time in a shopping, street setting, which entailed a bit more work in the detail.

Hanamachi – literally “flower town” is a district where geisha entertainment is centered.

The Japanese geisha tradition dates back to the 18th century, and modern-day geisha continue to undergo a rigorous apprenticeship in geisha houses that include lessons in song, historic dances, Japanese musical instruments, and the intricacies of the traditional tea ceremony.

Hanamachi Geiko.
The difference between and geisha, geiko and meiko. A geisha or geiko is a woman trained in the art of music, singing, and dancing, often including the traditional stringed instrument shamisen, and various dances that celebrate the changing seasons. They are also trained to elegantly move and pour drinks, speak eloquently, and be charismatic and charming.

They both wear the kimono, have the complicated hairstyle, and iconic white makeup with red lips. The only difference between them is where they come from. In Kyoto, these women are called geiko whilst in Tokyo, they are known as geisha.
To put it simply, a maiko is an apprentice geiko/geisha. She is a younger woman or even a child who is training in the arts of the geisha and geiko.

Hanamachi (花街) is a Japanese geisha district. The word's literal meaning is "flower town". Such districts contain various okiya (geisha houses) and ochaya (teahouses).